Are we at our happiest as children?

I honestly feel like every single stage of life comes with its own unique brand of uncertainty.

Lawrence Wells said:I honestly feel like every single stage of life comes with its own unique brand of uncertainty.

And old age is particularly daunting, isn't it? You have lived through your prime, your physical vitality begins to wane, and you find yourself with neither much time remaining nor any realistic hope for sweeping improvements to your circumstances...

How terrible!

The sole redeeming quality of such an era is the vast reservoir of life experience one has gathered, which can be offered to the younger generations—provided they possess even the slightest willingness to listen.

Nicole Barrett76 said:And old age is particularly daunting, isn't it? You have lived through your prime, your physical vitality begins to wane, and you find yourself with neither much time remaining nor any realistic hope for sweeping improvements to your circumstances...

How terrible!

The sole redeeming quality of such an era is the vast reservoir of life experience one has gathered, which can be offered to the younger generations—provided they possess even the slightest willingness to listen.

And even if they don't listen, I guess you can at least feel a bit important or smug about everything you've been through, traveling all over the place. Plus, if someone managed to land a solid pension, they can definitely live it up. Though for some old folks, just existing is enough of a luxury...

Then again, kids are pretty happy because they have zero clue about how much stuff is actually going wrong around them. To them, "evil" is just a cartoon witch, or having homework, or Mom losing her cool on you. Looking back, when I was little, I hated how everything was constantly being restricted, or how people were always trying to teach me "discipline" and all that crap. And man, those moments when adults talk down to you like you're an idiot... you ask why you can't do something, and the only answer you get is "because I said so!" Ugh, that used to drive me absolutely insane...

Kids aren't actually happy. They’re weighed down by more stress and anxiety than most people realize, and honestly, truly happy children are a rare breed—usually because they weren't raised in the middle of a concrete jungle.

Childhood is arguably the most carefree chapter of a human life—you aren't burdened by the weight of the past or the anxieties of what's next. You simply exist, shielded from worry because someone else is always looking out for you. Now, adolescence brings its own specific brand of stress—not the kind we face later in life with careers and families, but something more primal... the desperate need to fit in and prove oneself to peers. Many people endure significant hardships during those teenage years—it isn't always a happy experience. For some, there are struggles with parents, unstable environments, or fractured social circles. My point is this: while childhood is often the peak of happiness, even a middle-aged adult can recapture that sense of peace—provided they find a little bit of organization...

my take on this

there’s this big picture happiness and then there’s just... immediate, right now happiness

back when we were kids, "right now" was simple—did you finish your homework? did you get an A? did you get a Hershey bar?

as for the big picture life satisfaction? we didn't even give it a second thought
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then you hit those teenage years and suddenly that big picture sense starts growing—you feel like the world is basically waiting to hand you everything, right? love, sex, a killer career, cash, parties, travel... all the good stuff

but that "right now" feeling? it starts dipping because a candy bar just doesn't cut it anymore—now we need better clothes, social status, looking the part
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fast forward to this late-twenties/early-thirties phase and man, the "right now" stuff is everywhere—I won't even list them all all at once

but that overall sense of happiness? it starts tanking under all the anxiety, the pressure, and that constant, nagging feeling that the sand is slipping through the hourglass

honestly, looking at my own life, I think the sweet spot is somewhere between ages 20 and 25. You’ve got so much time ahead of you—all that optimism, hope, and high expectations—plus you actually have the energy and options to enjoy the moment, whether it's sports, eating out, sex, or just hitting the town

Exactly

A little sleep without any baggage

And waking up without any weight on her shoulders

Though if these modern-day little princesses actually stopped partying and deleted Facebook, they’d probably be sleeping just as soundly

Basically, I'm just inventing my own misery

Of course I would... if I could go back in time, I’d head straight back to my childhood in an instant. Not just any childhood, though—I mean those very early years. Even though things were pretty rough when my parents went through their divorce, we all have those certain moments etched in our minds, you know? Those times when people actually looked out for us and made sure we felt cared for.
Then there’s the teenage years—that weird middle ground where you’re technically still a kid, but suddenly you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. I feel like I just grew up faster because of everything I had to deal with, but honestly? I’ve managed to hold onto that inner child. Little things still make me light up, just like they used to. I’m still the kind of person who’ll kick off my shoes in the middle of a rainstorm just to run around barefoot. 😉
I catch myself thinking about those adults who used to tell us, "Enjoy it while it lasts, this is the best time of your life." Back then, we were all just counting down the minutes until the school bell rang so we could finally be free, and now? Now I’d give anything to have those days back.
Kids should really only have to worry about being happy. Who knows what life is going to throw at them later? While they're young, they should just be allowed to soak up every bit of joy.

Morgan Bishop4 said:And even if they don't listen, I guess you can at least feel a bit important or smug about everything you've been through, traveling all over the place. Plus, if someone managed to land a solid pension, they can definitely live it up. Though for some old folks, just existing is enough of a luxury...

Then again, kids are pretty happy because they have zero clue about how much stuff is actually going wrong around them. To them, "evil" is just a cartoon witch, or having homework, or Mom losing her cool on you. Looking back, when I was little, I hated how everything was constantly being restricted, or how people were always trying to teach me "discipline" and all that crap. And man, those moments when adults talk down to you like you're an idiot... you ask why you can't do something, and the only answer you get is "because I said so!" Ugh, that used to drive me absolutely insane...

That wasn't really my experience. They couldn't pull the "cartoon villain" or "the cops are coming if you don't finish your homework" routine on me. I realized what was actually going on in my world pretty early on—and my parents never tried to pretend otherwise. First, we moved to a completely different part of the country, and then shortly after that, I lost both my grandparents within six months. I knew they weren't coming back. Nothing felt restricted because there was no point in pretending. I was just a quiet kid who spent most of her time reading.

Jack Smith5 said:Kids aren't actually happy. They’re weighed down by more stress and anxiety than most people realize, and honestly, truly happy children are a rare breed—usually because they weren't raised in the middle of a concrete jungle.

Like, what kind of worries are we talking about here? Do you really think kids that age actually perceive things as "worries"?

Richard Wells said:Like, what kind of worries are we talking about here? Do you really think kids that age actually perceive things as "worries"?

Well—let's say an uncle forces you to touch his private parts every single day, and it leaves you feeling dirty and ashamed, yet you can't even tell your mom because you're too embarrassed and feel guilty... I’d say that definitely counts as a worry 🤷 I’m speaking hypothetically, obviously, but just because I am doesn't mean it isn't happening out there.

If I’m following you correctly, we’re talking about your average kid here, not kids who have gone through sexual trauma. We're just using a typical child as the baseline to compare against a typical adult.

What do you even mean by an "average" kid? If we’re going down that road, we might as well define the "average" adult too—you know, someone with a spouse, maybe two kids, a steady nine-to-five, a Golden Retriever, and a mortgage 🤷

Provided you grew up with a decent, stable family—you know, the kind of parents who actually have your back—childhood is easily the happiest chapter of one's life... mostly because you haven't the slightest clue how complicated the world actually is.

Linda Roberts said:Provided you grew up with a decent, stable family—you know, the kind of parents who actually have your back—childhood is easily the happiest chapter of one's life... mostly because you haven't the slightest clue how complicated the world actually is.

But then again, maybe you *do* have a clue. Maybe you know all about that kid in seventh grade, zvonak, who picks on you every single day just because he wants your lunch money or thinks your glasses look weird. Or maybe you already realize that you won't have any friends in class simply because you're Rom.

Nezz, I remember being pushed around constantly when I was just a kid—it felt relentless—but honestly? I’d just get home, settle in with some comic books all day long, and my life felt absolutely perfect... I did go out and play, of course, and naturally, the older kids were always trying to flex their authority over the little ones, but you know how it goes—one bad experience as a child fades away in five minutes, and you just head right over to a new friend with this unshakable sense of optimism.

I also had a Rom in my class back then, and he was genuinely the happiest person I ever knew.

Maybe things were just different back then... perhaps this modern sense of depression has finally reached even the little kids today.

crimsonpuma23 said:Look, speaking from what I went through, I had a pretty great childhood—I wasn't lacking anything, period—but man, I was constantly living in fear. It feels like I started realizing how heavy the world is way too early. And that anxiety just kept snowballing, while everyone else totally brushed me off. They’d be like, "What are you freaking out about? You're a kid, you've got a roof over your head, you're safe, what else could you possibly need?"
I was just way too sensitive, and instead of building up some grit, I just ended up getting completely overwhelmed by it all.
I threw myself at everything under the sun trying to fix it, but nothing actually worked.
Honestly, I'm just pissed at myself now for throwing in the towel so early on.

I don't think there's some magic one-size-fits-all answer here because everyone's path is different. Every single experience is its own unique beast. But it's a cold hard fact that most people are at their happiest when they're young, mostly because of that bubble we live in—that feeling of being untouchable, having zero responsibilities, and having that raw curiosity that turns into actual passion.

I would give anything to have squeezed every last drop of potential out of those years because it would have paid off big time. It's too late to turn back the clock, but it's also damn hard to focus on the future when you feel like you're just ignoring the mess of the present. 🙂

Whenever I hear such mindless nonsense being fed to you by others, I am overcome with the urge to deliver a sharp slap to anyone foolish enough to utter it.

If our sole definition of """happiness""" is working ourselves to the bone just to afford a basic roof, some furniture, a few clothes, and perhaps a functioning heater so we don't freeze during an American winter, then have we not truly fallen "far" from where we ought to be?

Honestly, I’d define happiness as just moving in a better direction—it’s all about progress, so your bank account balance is totally irrelevant

I also have another point regarding how happy we were as kids...
Our brains were basically bottomless pits of curiosity! Everything was fascinating and awesome—watching TV, or even just heading downtown—back then, a simple trip to the mall felt as big as getting an invite to meet the President

If you picked up some basic little gadget, like a toaster or an alarm clock, you’d be obsessed with it for days. Now? I can go out and buy a top-of-the-line gaming rig and barely even give it a second glance

I suppose children might be the happiest among us—though they lack the awareness to actually realize it.

However, I don't believe it’s healthy for an adult to live solely in the moment. If living "in the now" means ignoring the past and the future—for instance, if one receives a paycheck from a company like Amazon and immediately blows it all on shopping just for a fleeting sense of joy—then what happens next? Ignoring credit card bills and monthly utilities because you're too busy enjoying today... it's simply not sustainable. After all, as parents, we sacrifice so much today to ensure our children have a better life tomorrow. Why bother teaching a child to read or write? It’s tedious, right? Just live for the moment! To my mind, that philosophy is utterly irresponsible—it isn't how a mature adult should conduct themselves.

Perhaps we aren't as happy because we have gained maturity... yet, I still believe an adult can find genuine happiness. But it is a conscious happiness—quite different from that unconscious, carefree bliss found in childhood.

Chris Sanchez6 said:I suppose children might be the happiest among us—though they lack the awareness to actually realize it.

However, I don't believe it’s healthy for an adult to live solely in the moment. If living "in the now" means ignoring the past and the future—for instance, if one receives a paycheck from a company like Amazon and immediately blows it all on shopping just for a fleeting sense of joy—then what happens next? Ignoring credit card bills and monthly utilities because you're too busy enjoying today... it's simply not sustainable. After all, as parents, we sacrifice so much today to ensure our children have a better life tomorrow. Why bother teaching a child to read or write? It’s tedious, right? Just live for the moment! To my mind, that philosophy is utterly irresponsible—it isn't how a mature adult should conduct themselves.

Perhaps we aren't as happy because we have gained maturity... yet, I still believe an adult can find genuine happiness. But it is a conscious happiness—quite different from that unconscious, carefree bliss found in childhood.

It is entirely possible to live in the present moment, provided one has surrendered the craving for sensory indulgence—or at least significantly tempered it—while dedicating oneself to serving others and placing one's trust in God, one infinite, or the Universe... whatever you prefer.

In that sense, I believe we should embrace the present, though certainly not in the sense of splurging the moment a paycheck hits your bank account.

The true ideal would be to act with the conviction that everything depends on your own efforts, while maintaining the profound awareness that the ultimate outcome rests solely with God.